Bottle holder



April 16 1963 w. B. GoBEl. 3,085,612

BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Dec. l2, 1960 M'%g Z4 SM M m M /5 Z4 INVENTOR. Z0 IWxLLsAM B. @GEEL YQ *WWW l @@@QWJW i HL/E- United States Patent O3,085,612 BOTTLE HOLDER William B. Gobel, 58 Bonnie Lane, ClarendonHills, Ill. Filed Dec. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 75,272 4 Claims. (Cl. 150-52)This application relates to a carrier and support for infant nursingbottles and particularly to an insulated holder for infant nursingbottles.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide animproved carrier and support for infant nursing bottles and particularlyto provide an improved insulated support or holder for bottles.

Another object of t-he invention is to provide an improved holder forbottles of the type set forth wherein the .-bottle and the contentsthereof are enclosed within a cover thereby to be insulated from thesurroundings to keep the contents substantially at a predeterminedtemperature.

Yet -another object of the invention is to provide an improved holderfor bottles of the type set forth Wherein the bottle can be storedtherein for transportation with the nipple disposed within the usual capfor the bottle or can be stored therein in a feeding position with thenipple protruding from the bottle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carrier andsupport for bottles of the type set forth wherein a first cover isprovided for either storage of or feeding `from a rst bottle and asecond cover is provided for storage of a second bottle, the coversbeing arranged either in a rst position wherein the axes of the bottlesare aligned for storage or in a second position wherein the axes of thebottles are arranged substantially perpendicular whereby the firstbottle in the iirst cover is held in position for feeding of thecontents thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier and supportfor bottles of the type set forth including two insulated covers and astrap so that the covers can be arranged for storage and carrying ofbottles therein by means of the strap or alternatively the covers can bearranged to facilitate the Afeeding of .the contents of one of thebottles disposed therein to an infant.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing. In the drawing wherein like reference numeralshave been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

FlGU-RE l is -a perspective view of a carrier and A Support for infantnursing bottles made in accordance with and embodying the principles ofthe present inveni tion and showing the two insulated covers thereofarranged with the axes disposed parallel to each other and with acarryin-g strap in -operable position to facilitate carrying thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the two covers separated and thecarrying handle removed therefrom to illustrate the arrangement of thesnaps which are adapted to hold the covers in the two operable positionsthereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the snapsholding the two insulated covers together and the snaps by which thecarrying handle can be applied to and removed from the two insulatedcovers;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational View of the carrier illustrated in FIG. 1of the drawing;

FIG. 5 is a view in horizontal section through one of the insulatedcovers substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along theline 5 5 in FIG. 2;

ICC

trating the position of the two insulated covers when the one cover isin position to feed to `an infant the contents -of the bottle disposedtherein.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a carrier andsupport for infant nursing bottles generally designated by the numeral10 and including a first insulated cover 12, a second insulated cover14, and a cairying handle or strap 16, the insulated covers 12 and 14being arranged with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed parallel toeach other and disposed against each other and with the carrying strap16 extending between and interconnecting the two insu-lated covers v12and 14. The first insulated cover 12 is elongated and generally squarein cross section, see FIG. 5 of the drawing, and includes an outer wall18 and an inner wall 20, the outer wall 18 being generally in the formof a cylinder substantially square in cross section and closed at thelower end thereof as viewed in FIG. 2 and terminating in the upper endthereof and inwardly directed and gathered larea 22. The inner wall 20is shaped generally like the outer wall 18 and likewise is closed at thelower end as viewed in FIG. 2 of the -drawing and provided with gathers(not shown) at the upper end thereof. Preferably, -both the louter wall18 and inner wall 20 are Iformed of a suitable plastic and particularlya suitable synthetic organic plastic material such 4as a vinyl plastic,a polyethylene plastic, -or the like. Preferably, the material ofconstruction of the walls 18 and 20 is washable and :substantiallyimpervious to water and capable of standing temperatures both hot andcold that may be encountered in the handling of an infant nursingbottle. More particularly, the outer and inner walls 18 yand 20 must 'begenerally pliable and flexible under the conditions encountered andcapable of being washed in order to insure the sanitary conditionthereof at all times.

The outer and inner walls 18 and 20 will provide a substantial degree ofinsulation yfor the cover 12 but in order to enhance the thermalinsulating properties of the cover 12, a mass of insulating material 24such as asbestos, sisal or the like is disposed between the walls 18 and20 and generally held in position by stitching as at 26; it is to beunderstood that the insulating material 24 extends between the bottomsof the outer and inner Walls 18 and 20 and up into the gathered area 22as well as along the periphery as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawing.

A The upper end of the gathers or gathered area 22 is provided with anelastic band 28 which extends completely therearound and has a diameterin the unstretched condition thereof slightly less than the diameter ofa neck of a bottle to be used in association therewith and beingstretchable to a diameter to receive the neck of a bottle and theassociated collar therethrough as will be explained in greater detailhereafter. The cross sectional dimensions of the cover 12 are alsochosen so as to accommodate the standard sizes of commercial bottlesavailable today and may be generally square in form as is illustrated inFIG. 5 of the drawing. It is to be understood, however, that bottleshaving hexagonal, triangular or other cross sections can also beaccommodated within the cover 12. The bottle 30 has a neck in the upperend thereof which is provided with external threads whereby the neck canthreadedly receive a collar 32 having an inwardly directed flange 34which is adapted alternatively to hold a cap 36 to protect the contentsof the bottle 30 or to engage a ange on the nipple 38 (see FIG. 6 of thedrawing) to hold the nipple 38 in the operable feeding position. A flap40 is provided at the upper end of the cover 12 and has an areasufficient completely to wrap around and enclose the neck of the bottle30 in- FIG. 6 is a perspective view on a reduced scale illus- I cludingthe collar 32 thereof as is illustrated in FIGS.

l and` 4 of the drawing, one edge of the flap 4t) being connected to thecover 12 adjacent to the elastic band 28, although it is to beunderstood a loose flap 40 not connected to the cover 12 might also beutilized in lieu thereof. The flap 40 is preferably formed of the samematerial as the outer wall 1S.

'The bottle 30 can be conveniently inserted into the cover 12 through anopening formed in one of the rectangular longitudinally extending sides42 thereof, the opening having a length sufficient to permit insertionof the bottle 39 with its cap 32 thereon and placement thereof in theposition illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawing. A closure meansis provided to close the elongated opening in the wall 20 and moreparticularly a zipper 44 is provided having the usual operating handle46 which is movable from a lower position, i.e., from a positionadjacent to the bottom or the closed end of the cover 12, wherein abottle can be inserted through the opening, to a position adjacent tothe gathers 22 or top end of the holder 12 to close the opening and tohold the bottle 3) within the cover 12.

The second insulated cover 14 is also elongated and generally square incross section and includes both inner and outer walls formed of asuitable plastic and preferably a synthetic organic plastic of the sametype from which the walls 18 and 20 of the insulated cover 12 areformed. The outer and inner walls of cover 14 also have disposedtherebetween insulating material like the insulating material 24described above which is held in place such as by stitching illustratedby the numeral 26 in FIG. of the drawing. lIn general, the crosssectional configuration of the insulated cover 114 is like that of theinsulated cover 12 illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawing. Both the upperand lower ends of the cover 14 as viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawing areclosed and the internal longitudinal dimension of the cover -14 issufficient to accommodate therein a bottle such as the bottle 30 inwhich the nipple 38 is turned inwardly and is held in position by acollar 32 in contact with a cap 36. The associated bottle is placedwithin the insulated cover 14 by inserting it through an opening in oneof the elongated longitudinally extending sides 50 thereof, thedimensions of the insulated cover 14 and the length of the opening inthe side thereof being such as to permit ready insertion of a bottleinto the cover 114 and withdrawal thereof when desired. A suitableclosure means such as a zipper 52 is provided to close the opening inthe side 50, the zipper 52 including the usual operating handle 54. Whenthe handle 54 is in the lower position thereof, the opening within theside 50 can receive therethrough a bottle 30 for insertion within thecover 14 or withdrawal therefrom; conversely, when the handle 54 is inthe upper position thereof whereby to close the zipper 52, the openingin the side 50 is likewise closed to hold and to retain an associatedbottle within the cover 14.

iIt is desirable that the covers 12 and 14 be held in one of twopreferred positions with respect to each other and to this end aplurality of fastener means in the form of snaps have been provided.More specifically, there has been provided upon one of thelongitudinally extending walls or sides 6l) of the cover 12 a portion ofa snap and more specifically a socket or female portion 62, three of thesockets 62 having been illustrated with two of the sockets arranged inalignment longitudinally of the side 60 and two of the sockets 62 beingarranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the side 60 wherebythe sockets 62 are disposed in triangular form and more particularly inthe apexes of an isosceles right triangle. One of the longitudinallyextending sides 64 of the second insulated cover 14 is provided with theother portions of the snaps and more particularly with three stud ormale members 66 rmly secured to the Wall of the cover 14. The studs 66are likewise arranged at the apexes of an isosceles right triangle andin a position such that all of the sockets receive all of thecorresponding studs when the snaps are engaged with the longitudinalaxes of the covers `12 and 14 disposed parallel to each other. With thesnaps thus engaged, the covers 12 and 14 are in the position illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawing. At those times when it is desired toarrange the covers 12 and 14 as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawingonly two of the snaps are engaged, there being two possibilities ofcombination of studs and sockets, i.e., a first combination in which thelongitudinal pair of sockets 62 engages a transverse pair of studs 66 onthe cover 14, and secondly, when the transverse pair of sockets 62engages the longitudinally aligned pair of studs on the cover 14. Itwill be seen that in both of the engaged positions of the snaps, i.e.,when the axes of the covers 12 and 14 are in either parallelism orperpendicular to each other, the connection between the covers 12 and 14is firm so that there is no possibility of rotation therebetween in use.

It also is desirable in certain instances to apply the carrying strap orhandle 16 to the covers 12 and 14 when they are arranged in the positionillustrated in FIGS. l and 4 of the drawing. The strap 16 may also bemade 0f plastic and may be of the same material of which the walls ofthe covers are formed, but of a heavier gauge to provide the necessarystrength, and the length of the handle 16 is suicient to extend betweenthe spaced apart sides of the covers 12 and 14 and still leavesuflicient space for the user to grasp the handle 16 as is illustratedin FIG. 4 of the drawing. In order to facilitate the application andremoval of the handle 16, second pairs of snaps have been provided. Morespecifically, a first stud or male snap part 68 is provided on one ofthe longer sides of the cover 12 and is adapted to cooperate with asocket or female part 70 secured to the handle 16 adjacent to one endthereof. Another socket or female part 72 is likewise secured to one ofthe longer sides of the cover 14 and adapted to cooperate with a stud ormale part 74 mounted on the handle 16 adjacent to the end thereof. Thehandle 16 can also be used to carry the cover 12 or the cover 14individually, the snap parts 70 and 74 on the handle 16 cooperating withthe snap parts 68 and 62 respectively in the case of the cover 12, andcooperating with the snap parts 66 and 72, respectively, in the case ofthe cover 14.

It is to be understood that the covers 12 and 14 may be advantageously`utilized to store bottles containing milk that has been refrigerated ormilk that has been heated to feeding temperature. For example, whencontemplating a long trip, a refrigerated bottle of milk having thenipple thereof directed inwardly and covered by a cap 36 may be placedin each of the covers 12 and 14 and the insulated covers 12 and 14 willserve to hold the temperature of the contents of the bottles at a safelow temperature to minimize bacterial growth therein. The covers may bestored separately or may be stored in the aligned position illustratedin the position of FIG. 4 of the drawing and if it is desired totransport or carry the covers with the bottles therein, the carryinghandle 16 may be applied for convenience. It even is contemplated thatthe covers 12 and 14 may be placed in a refrigerator for conveniencesake, if desired.

In other instances it may be desirable to hold or transport bottles ofmilk in which the contents thereof have been heated to or slightly abovethe feeding temperature thereof. In such an instance, the insulatingcovers 12 and 14 will serve to maintain the temperature of the contentsof the bottles substantially at the predetermined ternperature thereoffor a considerable period of time. When it is desired to feed milk fromthe bottle within the cover 12, the nipple is placed in the outwardlyextending position illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing and the snapsare arranged to place the covers 12 and 14 in the relative positionillustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing whereby the cover 14 and thecontents thereof serve as a support and holder for the bottle within thecover 12 during feeding of the 4contents thereof to an infant. Theinsulated cover 12 further serves to aid in holding the contents of thebottle being -fed near the feeding temperature thereof as feedingprogresses by minimizing temperature losses from the sides of thebottle.

The zippers 44 and 52 greatly facilitate the insertion of the bottlesinto the covers 12 and 14, respectively, and withdrawal of the bottlestherefrom. The flap 40 in cooperation with the elastic band 2S serves toprotect the bottle within the cover v12 during transport thereof andpermits ready positioning of the nipple 38 in the feeding position whendesired. The snaps 62 and y66 likewise readily facilitate placement ofthe covers 12 and 14 in either the carrying position thereof illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawing or in the feeding and support positionthereof illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing.

It will be seen that there has been provided a carrier and support forinfant nursing bottles which fulfills all of the objects and advantagesset forth above. Although only one preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications can be made therein Without departing fromlthe true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A carrier and support for infant nursing bottles cornprising a firstelongated and insulated cover adapted to receive an infant nursingbottle therein and to insulate the -contents thereof from thesurroundings to hold the temperature thereof at a desired Value, asecond elongated and insulated cover adapted to receive an infantnursing bottle therein and to insulate the contents thereof from thesurroundings to hold the temperature thereof at a desired value, andfastener means mounted on the outer surfaces of said covers, saidfastener means cooperating in a first engaged position thereof to holdsaid covers and the associated bottles adjacent to each other with thelongitudinal axes thereof disposed parallel to each other to support thecovers and the associated bottles in a position to facilitate carryingthereof, said fastener means cooperating in a second engaged positionthereof to hold said covers and the associated bottles adjacent to eachother with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed perpendicular to eachother to support the covers and the associated bottles in a position tofacilitate feeding the contents of one of the bottles to an infant whilethe one bottle is in the associated cover.

2. A carrier and support for infant nursing bottles having a neck at oneend thereof comprising a tirst elongated and insulated cover adapted toreceive an infant nursing bottle therein and to insulate the contentsthereof from the surroundings to hold the temperature thereof at adesired value, said first cover having an opening in one end thereof toreceive therethrough the neck of an infant nursing bottle, `a flap onsaid first cover adapted to overlie the end of the associated infantnursing bottle and to wrap therearound, a second elongated and insulatedcover adapted to receive an infant nursing bottle therein and toinsulate the contents thereof from the surroundings to hold thetemperature thereof at a desired value, and fastener means mounted onthe outer surfaces of said covers, said fastener means cooperating in afirst engaged position thereof to hold said covers and the associatedbottles adjacent to each other with the longitudinal axes thereofdisposed parallel to each other to support the covers and the associatedbottles in a position to facilitate carrying thereof, said fastenermeans cooperating in a second engaged position thereof to hold saidcovers and the associated bottles adjacent to each other with thelongitudinal axes thereof disposed perpendicular to each other tosupport the covers and the associated bottles with the neck of thebottle in said first cover in position to facilitate feeding thecontents thereof to an infant while the bottle is in said first cover.

3. A carrier and support for infant nursing bottles having a neck at oneend thereof comprising a first elongated and insulated cover adapted toreceive an infant nursing bottle therein and to insulate the contentsthereof from the surroundings to hold the temperature thereof at adesired value, said first cover having an opening in one end thereof toreceive therethrough the neck of an infant nursing bottle, an elasticband on said one end of said rst cover and adapted to receivetherethrough the neck of the associated infant nursing bottle and toclamp therearound, closure means in one of the longitudinally extendingsides of said first cover to facilitate placement of an infant nursingbottle therein after which said closure means can -be closed to hold theassociated bottle in said first cover, a second elongated and insulatedcover adapted to receive an infant nursing bottle therein and toinsulate the contents thereof from the surroundings to hold thetemperature thereof at a desired value, and fastener means mounted onthe outer surfaces of said covers, said fastener means cooepratng in afirst engaged position thereof to hold said covers .and the associatedbottles adjacent to each other with the longitudinal axes thereofdisposed parallel to each other to support the covers and the associatedbottles in a position to facilitate carrying thereof, said fastenermeans cooperating in a second engaged position thereof to hold saidcovers and the associated bottles adjacent to each other with thelongitudinal axes thereof disposed perpendicular to each other tosupport the covers and the associated bottles with the neck of thebottle in said first cover in position to facilitate feeding thecontents thereof to an infant while the bottle is in said first cover.

4. The carrier and support for infant nursing bottles set forth in claim1, which further comprises -a handle detachably connected to said coversvfor facilitating the carrying thereof when said fastener means are inthe first engaged position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS915,452 Litts Mar. 16, 19409 1,687,004 Briggs Oct. 9, 1928 1,939,777Humboldt Dec. 19, 1933 2,035,384 Hinchli Mar. 24, 1936 2,482,322 CorteseSept. 20, 1949 2,550,199 Moss Apr. 24, 1951 2,643,785 Rust June 20, 19532,667,198 Klein Jan. .26, 1954 2,706,571 Ryan Apr. 19, 1955 2,759,617Gauthier Aug. 21, 1956

1. A CARRIER AND SUPPORT FOR INFANT NURSING BOTTLES COMPRISING A FIRSTELONGATED AND INSULATED COVER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN INFANT NURSINGBOTTLE THEREIN AND TO INSULATE THE CONTENTS THEREOF FROM THESURROUNDINGS TO HOLD THE TEMPERATURE THEREOF AT A DESIRED VALUE, ASECOND ELONGATED AND INSULATED COVER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN INFANTNURSING BOTTLE THEREIN AND TO INSULATE THE CONTENTS THEREOF FROM THESURROUNDINGS TO HOLD THE TEMPERATURE THEREOF AT A DESIRED VALUE, ANDFASTENER MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID COVERS, SAIDFASTENER MEANS COOPERATING IN A FIRST ENGAGED POSITION THEREOF TO HOLDSAID COVERS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOTTLES ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER WITH THELONGITUDINAL AXES THEREOF DISPOSED PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER TO SUPPORT THECOVERS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOTTLES IN A POSITION TO FACILITATE CARRYINGTHEREOF, SAID FASTENER MEANS COOPERATING IN A SECOND ENGAGED POSITIONTHEREOF TO HOLD SAID COVERS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOTTLES ADJACENT TO EACHOTHER WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXES THEREOF DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO EACHOTHER TO SUPPORT THE COVERS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOTTLES IN A POSITION TOFACILITATE FEEDING THE CONTENTS OF ONE OF THE BOTTLES TO AN INFANT WHILETHE ONE BOTTLE IS IN THE ASSOCIATED COVER.